UAE Derby Runner-up Heart of Honor Confirmed for Preakness; Clever Again Works

[Wandering Eyes]

G2 UAE Derby runner-up Heart of Honor (Honor A.P.) is scheduled to ship to the U. S. Thursday to begin preparations for a start in the GI Preakness Stakes May 17 at Pimlico Race Course, British trainer Jamie Osborne reported from his Lambourn stable Tuesday.

“He has to quarantine at Churchill. It's a bit of a pain,” said Osborne, whose stable is located an hour from London. “He's going to van to Pimlico on Monday. He'll be on the track at Pimlico Tuesday morning.”

Heart of Honor ran five races at Dubai's Meydan Race Course after debuting with a second-place finish at Southwell (England) on an all-weather surface. Jim and Claire Limited's colt came up a nose short of winning the 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby Apr. 5 at Meydan.

“Initially, after the UAE Derby, I thought that the horse may well need a break. He'd had five runs in Dubai. But when he got off the plane, he told me he wasn't ready for a break. He's thrived since he's been back. He's a hardy kind of horse,” Osborne said. “With that in mind, we thought this was worth a shot. He's only three once. There's nothing in the U.K. for him. So, the alternative was to give him a break, a long-extended break, and wait for next year's Middle East season when we go back to Dubai.

Osborne continued, “The Kentucky Derby was clearly going to be too soon for him. Logistically, it was going to be nearly impossible to ship from Dubai back here and then to America. The extra couple of weeks will probably be to our benefit, as well. We're going to have a go, and if he runs OK in the Preakness, the aim is to hang on for another three weeks and go to Saratoga.”

Heart of Honor was equipped with blinkers for the first time in the UAE Derby.

“He did travel more generously with them on, and he will wear them in the Preakness,” Osborne said. “Prior to that, he was being a little bit lazy. He was getting behind. He lost a couple of races in Dubai by getting a little bit too far behind and staying on a bit too late.”

Saffie Osborne, the trainer's 23-year-old daughter, rode Heart of Honor in the UAE Derby and has the Preakness mount.

“I think this horse, in what he's achieved so far, has to step up, but I think there's a chance that he can step up,” said the 57-year-old conditioner. “He's a horse that seems to be maturing and coming around this time of year.”

 

Journalism On the Fence, Preakness-Bound Clever Again Works

Plans have yet to be finalized for GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism (Curlin), who walked Tuesday before returning to train Wednesday, according to Justin Curran, Churchill Downs assistant to trainer Michael McCarthy.

“Then the owners will make a decision in the next couple of days,” he said.  “He came out of the race great–has good energy and is eating. He looks like a happy horse.”

Curran said Journalism is likely to jog [Wednesday], perhaps when the track first opens at 5:30 a.m. ET, then gallop Thursday.

McCarthy flew back to California and is expected to return to Louisville over the weekend.

After three days of delay because of sloppy track conditions at Churchill Downs, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen was finally able to work the lightly-raced Clever Again (American Pharoah) for the Preakness. The Hot Springs Stakes winner worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.60 in company and with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard.

“A work scheduled for Saturday has now happened on Tuesday,” Asmussen said. “The horse obviously has plenty of talent. He's very kind, manageable. Jose loved how he felt today, how he galloped out. Very happy to get this work in him.”'

Ortiz rode Clever Again in a pair of Oaklawn races.

Asmussen said Clever Again likely will work a half-mile on Monday [May 12] and van to Pimlico on Tuesday.

GII Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez (Authentic), who was withdrawn from the Derby because of a minor foot issue, is scheduled to have a timed workout this weekend.

Rodriguez continued to train every day, including galloping Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

“We're going to breeze this weekend, and then ship to Pimlico,” Baffert said.

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